Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (21 page)

“No man can say you are incapable, Chase. Your ways may be different, but you still bested them. A man does not survive here by chance.  You may be unfamiliar with the ways of the people here, but this can all be learned in time.” She smiled encouragingly at him. Why couldn’t he understand he had not failed?

Chase took a step closer to her. She held her breath. His eyes were locked onto hers with such intensity, she thought he stared right through her. Suddenly his features softened, and his hand reached up to touch her arm, sliding slowly upward.

“I’m glad you’re here to believe in me, Angel,” he said softly. His touch, and the way he spoke to her, sent delicious ripples down her spine.  In the distance, a dog barked. Sarah turned her head.

“Grizzly?” she called. The warm sensation of Chase’s hand remained on her arm, even as she spun to look into the distance. To the west, heading towards the cabin along the Madison, she spotted three figures walking along the riverbank. Her dog bounded through the grass in front of them. He’d obviously healed from his ordeal as well.

“It’s my uncle,” Sarah said. Chase stiffened visibly next to her. She gave him a searching look. “Would you come with me to greet him?”

“You go ahead,” he motioned with his head. All softness had left his eyes. “I can say hello when he gets here.”

“Chase, these men are not Blackfoot.” Did she have to remind him?  “The Tukudeka are hunters, not warriors. They avoid conflict.”

His cheek muscles worked while he clenched and unclenched his jaw. He forced a smile. “I know, Angel. Go out and meet your uncle. And, Sarah . . . don’t say anything to them about what’s happened.”

Sarah searched his face. Reluctantly, she turned and headed out to meet her relatives. They were still quite a distance away, too far to recognize individual people. Who else traveled with her uncle? She glanced over her shoulder. Chase hadn’t moved. She headed out across the meadow. Grizzly’s barks grew in their intensity, and he ran at her at full speed when she whistled to him. The giant dog leapt at her, knocking her to the ground.

“Easy, you big beast”, Sarah laughed. “I’m glad to see you, too.” She wrapped her arms around the dog’s neck, while he attempted to lick every inch of her face. She still sat in the moist grass when the three men drew near.

“Your dog was anxious to return to you,” she heard her uncle’s voice. Looking up from wrestling with Grizzly, the smile froze on her face. She quickly jumped to her feet, wiping her hands on the seat of her britches. Standing next to her uncle was his son, Touch the Cloud, and next to him stood Hawk Soaring.  Her cousin smiled brightly at her, much like Elk Runner. Hawk’s face remained passive. He nodded politely at her, then focused his eyes further into the distance.

“
Imaah
, it is good to see you are well,” Touch the Cloud said.

“And you,
tangumpua
. You must be proud that you have a son.” She swiped some stray hair out of her face.

“It will not be soon enough when I can meet him and hold him in my arms,” Touch the Cloud said proudly.

Sarah’s eyes darted to the man standing next to her cousin. He stood tall and proud, his hand firmly around his horn bow. He wore a simple buckskin shirt and fringed pants. Around his waist hung his weapons belt, with tomahawk and hunting knife hanging on either side of his hips. His moccasins were plain and unadorned with quills or beads. In his long black hair was tied a single hawk feather. A quiver full of arrows hung over his shoulders, as well as a large leather pouch.

Sarah forced a smile. “I see you are well,
Kwiyoo Natukunto’eh
. It has been a while since we last met.” She’d always been so at ease around him. Now, she didn’t know what to say.

His eyes turned to her, and he bowed his head. “
Imaah
. I have brought you a gift.” He stepped forward and offered her the leather pouch. “Meat from a successful hunt,” he added. “You will not need to find your own for the remainder of the time your parents are away.”

Sarah took the offered pouch. It was heavy. “Thank you,
Kwiyoo
.” Her eyes darted to her uncle, who smiled smugly. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance.

“Will you come to the cabin for some food? I have fresh huckleberry pie. I know you like that, Uncle. I thank you for bringing my dog to me.”

Elk Runner’s face lit up. “I will not say no to that,” he said. Sarah nodded and headed back in the direction of her cabin. Her uncle walked beside her, and the two young hunters brought up the rear.

Sarah’s heart beat faster. Behind her walked the man who wanted her for his wife. Ahead somewhere was the man she wished would ask her to be his wife. And her uncle was well aware of this fact. Why would he bring Hawk Soaring, other than to toy with her?  He had to know that Chase was still here. She shot him a heated sideways look. He smiled brightly at her, shrugging his shoulders. She wanted to give her uncle a piece of her mind. Looking up ahead, Chase stood still, waiting on their arrival. Sarah wondered if he would be civil, or if his anger with the Blackfoot carried to her relatives as well.

Chapter 22

Chase stood by the woodpile and watched the group approach. Unexplainable anger welled up inside him.
They’re a different tribe of Indians, Russell. You can’t be mad at all of them now because of what you had to go through.
The Shoshone people that Sarah considered her relatives lived completely different from those Blackfeet. He’d always pictured Indians as living in tipis, riding horses, shooting guns and arrows. The Blackfoot matched that description, but not these Sheep Eaters. 

From what Sarah had told him, the Tukudeka were the only tribe that lived in these mountains permanently. The other tribes, like the Crow and Blackfoot, traveled through here, but didn’t stay the winter. He’d experienced first-hand how they lived in close-knit little family units, not in a large tribe. None of them had rifles. They hunted with bows they made from bighorn sheep and elk antler horn, and utilized their dogs as helpers in the hunt.

Chase watched the four people approach. He knew Elk Runner. He’d never seen the other two. He could almost guess who one of them was. He didn’t recognize either of them from the village. They were much younger than the older men he’d seen there, probably close to his own age. He clenched and unclenched his jaw, gnashing his teeth together. How was he going to act around the guy who wanted to marry Sarah? He hadn’t asked her again how she felt about the arrangement. He had gotten the impression that she wasn’t too happy about it, which suited him just fine. But what if her father had already sold her off to this Hawk guy?

 You’re a real coward, you know that, Russell? Why can’t you tell her how you feel about her?
 He could just picture himself walking up to her father, asking for his daughter’s hand. He’d probably get shot, and he hadn’t even met the man. He couldn’t even take care of himself here, how would he convince someone he could take care of a wife.

Wife!
What the hell are you thinking! You haven’t even asked her out on a date yet.  What are you going to do, take her with you when you go home?
Yeah, he could just picture Sarah living in the twenty-first century.  She’d never fit in to modern society. Heck, she’d only been to a city a few times from what she’d told him. Her whole life was built around her family and Indian friends.

Chase pulled his shirt on over his head. If he had any sense, he’d be happy for her to marry this Hawk person. She’d no doubt be well taken care of. Images of her living in one of those wooden wickiups, surrounded by a cluster of little black-haired kids wearing nothing but loincloths flooded his mind. Damn!

Just be polite and don’t make a scene
. Elk Runner already suspected that he was in love with Sarah. He’d made comments even before Chase had realized it himself. It was time to put on a smile and a poker face, and be civil to the guy who would get the girl he wanted for himself.

He recognized Sarah’s nervousness immediately when she and Elk Runner and company approached. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, and she clasped and unclasped her hands in front of her. A large pouch was draped over her shoulder. He hadn’t seen that before.  Her eyes were round as saucers when she met his gaze. She was probably hoping he wouldn’t say or do anything to embarrass her.

Chase plastered, what he hoped, was a welcoming look on his face. The only one with a genuine smile was her uncle. The younger men walked silently, their facial expressions not giving away any inner thoughts they might have as to his presence. Did Elk Runner even mention him? Their looks showed mild interest, more like curiosity. Chase didn’t see anything he could consider hostile.

Elk Runner extended his arm and opened his hand. “Chase Russell, you still lost?”

What the hell kind of question was that? “As lost as ever.” Chase clasped the older man’s hand.

Elk Runner pulled him to the side. He turned to Sarah, and she nodded when he spoke to her.  Chase met her nervous glance.  “I will have some pie ready in a moment.” Obviously Elk Runner had sent her away. He didn’t want her to listen in? He eyed the other men.

“This my son,
Sungkwa ‘ ah Pakuunappuh
, and friend,
Kwiyoo Natukunto’eh.
”

Chase shook both their hands. The Indians nodded respectfully, but Chase could tell he was being sized up. That was fine by him. He was taking their measure as well. Both of them were considerably shorter than he, but their proud and confident stance made them appear much larger. He and the guy Chase suspected to be Hawk held each other’s stare longer than necessary.

“You need go on spirit journey.”

Chase broke eye contact to look at Elk Runner. “The only spirit journey I’ve ever been on came from a bottle. And look where that landed me.”

Elk Runner looked him up and down. Why was this crazy Indian staring at him like that? He nodded, then said, “When you ready, I will teach.”

“Teach me what?” Chase asked impatiently.

Elk Runner draped an arm around Chase’s shoulder, and walked off with him, leaving the others standing by the woodpile.

“You want live like mountain man? Need learn much things.” 

Who the hell said he wanted to be a mountain man?
Chase laughed. “I need to talk to Sarah’s mother, then I’m hoping to go home. I’m definitely not a mountain man.” If he were, he wouldn’t have gotten himself caught by those Blackfoot. Elk Runner’s eyebrows raised. “You know
Dosa haiwi
?”

“What’s that?” His own brows furrowed in confusion.

“
Dosa haiwi
. . .
Imaah
mother.”

Now he understood. It was someone’s name. “What is her white name?”

“Aimee Osborne.” The English name sounded strange with the stiff way he pronounced it.

“No, I don’t know her. I just need to talk to her. She might be able to help me get home.” Chase stared at the ground.

“Chase Russell no realize he already home.” Elk Runner placed his hand on Chase’s upper arm. He seemed genuinely sincere.

Chase laughed nervously. The man was insane. He didn’t belonged here anymore than Elk Runner belonged in Twenty First Century Los Angeles.

“Are you all just going to stand around talking all day?” Sarah’s impatient voice called from the cabin.  All heads turned in her direction. Chase watched the way Hawk’s eyes fell on her. The man’s unreadable expression from a moment ago softened. Yeah, he was definitely in love with her. Anger and jealousy welled up inside him, and the urge to hit the guy surprised him.

“We were just on our way to the cabin,” Chase called, and headed towards her, hoping this conversation with Elk Runner was over. 

“That smells really good,” Chase said, sniffing the air when he stepped through the door. Sarah had set out four plates around the table, each piled high with thick slices of golden-crusted pie. “When did you make that?”

“While you were busy chopping down that tree out by the woodpile,” Sarah grinned.  “I have to warn you, my mother is quite fond of that tree. She told me once that it was just a sapling when she met my father.”

“I guess I’ll find something else to use for target practice then.”

The Indians filed into the cabin, and by the looks of things, they seemed familiar being here. They took their seats around the table. Hawk’s eyes followed Sarah, who had her back turned as she wiped crumbs off the workbench. Chase could tell he was trying to be discreet about it, the way he had his head lowered, but glanced upward in her direction.

“Aren’t you coming to sit down?” Chase noticed there was no place set for her.

“Oh no.” She shook her head. “I prefer to eat later.”

He wanted to argue with her, but then he’d only embarrass her again, so he let it go. Before he sat, he touched her between her shoulder blades, and ran his hand down to the small of her back. He let it linger for a moment. Her spine stiffened under his touch.

“Suit yourself, Angel,” he said, and turned to take his seat at the table, gloating silently. He didn’t have to look at Hawk to know the man’s glare was murderous.

******

Sarah busied herself cleaning invisible dirt off the workbench. If it had just been her uncle, she would have joined them at the table. But etiquette decreed that she not be in close proximity with Hawk Soaring. Everyone knew he had asked for her. She only needed to give her answer. If she sought out his company, it would appear as if she consented to the match. She needed to speak to her father.

The feel of Chase’s hand on her back still tingled. Why had he done that in front of everyone? He’d been polite the last few weeks. He hadn’t made any rude remarks, nor had he done anything inappropriate. Earlier, by the woodpile, his hand had rested on her arm. She was sure he meant to kiss her, but Grizzly had interrupted them, announcing his homecoming.  What did it all mean?

Chase’s ways were so different from anyone else’s. Her emotions seemed to constantly wage war inside her lately. On the one hand, she was pleased by the changes in him. But then, she admitted shamefully, that she missed some of his remarks that made her face turn scarlet.

Chair legs scraped against the wooden floor. The men had eaten in silence, and the meal was apparently over. Sarah turned, intending to collect the plates off the table. Hawk Soaring stood before her.

“
Imaah
, I wish to speak with you.”  She glanced into his brown eyes.   Warmth and affection was directed at her. “Will you walk with me outside?” Her eyes darted to the other men in the room. Elk Runner spoke with his son, and the two men headed out the door. Chase hadn’t left the table. Her eyes held his longer than she should have, and she swallowed involuntarily. His expression was unreadable. She turned her attention back to Hawk and nodded. “Lead the way,” she said.

She followed him outside, and he headed for the riverbank, staying in plain view of her uncle and cousin. Hawk’s hands were clasped behind his back. Sarah caught up to walk beside him, but kept a respectable gap between them.

“What is on your mind,
Kwyioo?”
she asked, when he didn’t speak.

He stopped to face her. “This white man. He lives in your house?”

Sarah nodded. She knew where this was heading. It was best brought out into the open now.

“Have you taken him as your husband?”

“No,
Kwyioo
, I have not.” She concentrated her eyes on the grasses at her feet, rather than look at him.

“You are aware that I have spoken with your father.”

“I am aware. What did my father tell you when you saw him?” Sarah had to know. She stopped counting blades of grass to look at Hawk.

“He told me the decision would be yours to make. He would not speak for you.”

Sarah expelled the breath she’d been holding. Her arms and legs tingled in relief.

“Do you have an answer for me?” His expression told her he already knew the answer.

“
Kwyioo
, you and I have known each other since we were children. I have great affection for you, but not in the ways a woman has affection for a husband. I’m sorry.” Sarah reached out to touch his arm. She knew she’d hurt him, but his facial expression remained passive.

“Perhaps in time, you could learn to love me,” he said hopefully.

Sarah took a deep breath. “Will you give me more time to think on this?”

His face brightened in a smile. “As long as you need. And whatever decision you make, I will respect your wishes.”

“Thank you,
Kwyioo
. You are an honorable man.”

They walked in silence back towards Elk Runner and Touch the Cloud.